Topic
Public Finance
5,915 speeches · 726 speakers
Party share
By the speaker's party · counts only, no scoring. "Unattributed" = speeches not resolved to an MP.
Most active on this topic
| # | Member | Speeches |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hon. Ravi Karunanayake, M.P. NDF | 283 |
| 2 | Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha, M.P. JJB | 229 |
| 3 | Hon. Sajith Premadasa, M.P. SJB | 171 |
| 4 | Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe, M.P. JJB | 167 |
| 5 | Hon. Bimal Rathnayake, M.P. JJB | 153 |
| 6 | Hon. Kumara Jayakody, M.P. JJB | 147 |
| 7 | Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva, M.P. SJB | 140 |
| 8 | Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa, M.P. JJB | 135 |
| 9 | Hon. Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, M.P. JJB | 115 |
| 10 | Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney at Law, M.P. SJB | 92 |
Speeches
5,915 on this topic- 14 March 2025 The Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna JJB AI summary K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna stated that the matter is not confined to Lak Pohora and that discussions are ongoing to extend the arrangement or measure to other companies as well. Appropriation Bill 2025: Committee Stage - Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure (Heads 135, 293, 337) Read →
- 14 March 2025 The Hon. K. Sujith Sanjaya Perera SJB AI summary Hon. K. Sujith Sanjaya Perera raised concerns about the financial distress of smallholder tea producers, who he said account for about 75 percent of tea exports and receive only around Rs. 150 per kilogram of green leaf. He argued that yields and incomes have not recovered from the previous fertilizer ban, and that current fertilizer assistance is insufficient and inconsistently available. He proposed extending part of the fertilizer subsidy to private fertilizer companies so they can supply smallholders at concessionary prices, given the limited capacity of state-linked suppliers. Appropriation Bill 2025: Committee Stage - Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure (Heads 135, 293, 337) Read →
- 14 March 2025 The Hon. Aboobucker Athambawa JJB AI summary Aboobucker Athambawa supported the Budget allocations for the Ministry of Plantations and Community Infrastructure, citing Rs. 17,488 million for plantation development and community infrastructure and additional funding to improve estate schools. He said the Government was prioritizing estate workers’ education, vocational training, health, housing, infrastructure and wages, including discussions with employers, training for 1,000 unemployed estate graduates, food assistance, land deeds, roofing sheets and smart classrooms for 60 schools. He also rejected Opposition remarks concerning the Muslim community and the NPP’s support base, alleging attempts to inflame communal tensions and referring to reported corruption issues involving a former local authority chairman. Appropriation Bill 2025: Committee Stage - Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure (Heads 135, 293, 337) Read →
- 14 March 2025 The Hon. W.H.M. Dharmasena SJB AI summary Hon. W.H.M. Dharmasena highlighted the economic importance of plantation crops and urged continued support for rubber cultivation in Monaragala, including action on yellowing disease. He called for a compensation mechanism for coconut growers affected by porcupines and wild elephants. He also raised concerns about the sugar industry, particularly Pelwatte and Sevanagala, seeking better market conditions, stable prices for sugar and spirits, restoration of employee benefits and wages, retention of long-serving temporary workers, and ministerial attention to the financial and administrative difficulties facing these institutions. Appropriation Bill 2025: Committee Stage - Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure (Heads 135, 293, 337) Read →
- 14 March 2025 The Hon. Ajith Agalakada JJB AI summary Hon. Ajith Agalakada highlighted the plantation sector’s importance for foreign exchange earnings and Sri Lanka’s international reputation through products such as Ceylon Tea and Ceylon Cinnamon, while arguing that weak planning and mismanagement had contributed to decline. Focusing on Monaragala District, he cited rubber and cinnamon cultivation figures and national targets for rubber production, yields, and export earnings under the Ministry of Plantations and Community Infrastructure budget. He proposed a government-led project to cultivate 250–300 hectares of new rubber in Monaragala, expand nurseries at Padiyathalawa and Kumbukkan Oya to address plant shortages, and use capital allocations to strengthen local plantation infrastructure. Appropriation Bill 2025: Committee Stage - Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure (Heads 135, 293, 337) Read →
- 14 March 2025 The Hon. Palani Thigambaram SJB AI summary Palani Thigambaram welcomed the Budget’s acknowledgement of the Hill Country Tamil community but urged the Government to move beyond statements and implement concrete programmes for estate people. He defended his record as Minister during 2015–2019, denying allegations of corruption or political favouritism and citing housing and development work carried out for estate communities. He called for continuity in addressing the long-standing problems of the Hill Country population, offered cooperation if the Government delivers, and asked the Minister to focus more on estate residents as well as plantation issues. Appropriation Bill 2025: Committee Stage - Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure (Heads 135, 293, 337) Read →
- 14 March 2025 The Hon. Chanaka Madugoda SLPP AI summary Hon. Chanaka Madugoda said the Budget allocations for plantation development are inadequate for Galle District’s large smallholder tea and cinnamon sectors, despite welcoming support for coconut rehabilitation and disease control. He proposed returning the Cinnamon Development Department to the Department of Export Agriculture, citing high rent costs and inadequate technical staffing, and requested increased tea replanting support from Rs. 600,000 to about Rs. 1 million per hectare. He also called for fertilizer subsidies and easier fertilizer access for tea and coconut growers, removal of regulatory barriers to inputs, and action on estate workers’ wages and infrastructure needs in Galle. Appropriation Bill 2025: Committee Stage - Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure (Heads 135, 293, 337) Read →
- 14 March 2025 The Hon. Danushka Ranganath JJB AI summary Hon. Danushka Ranganath supported the 2025 Budget allocation for the Ministry of Plantation Industries and Community Infrastructure Facilities, highlighting its focus on sustainable plantation development, export growth, and improving the socio-economic conditions of plantation communities. He outlined rubber-sector targets, including expanded cultivation, replanting, quality plant distribution, rain guards, income diversification, and measures to address New Leaf Fall disease through government intervention and research. He requested increased allocations for estate community infrastructure and specifically urged action on 17 landslide-risk houses in Maragahadeniya Estate, Palindanuwara, which have remained unresolved since 2017. Appropriation Bill 2025: Committee Stage - Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure (Heads 135, 293, 337) Read →
- 14 March 2025 The Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake NDF AI summary Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake criticized the Ministry of Plantation Industries and Community Infrastructure Facilities for not yet delivering on its stated promises, particularly on controlling coconut prices and addressing crop damage by monkeys and langurs. He questioned the Government’s wildlife census and called for concrete action on animal-related agricultural losses. He noted that key plantation-related institutions and lands are no longer under this Ministry, urged stronger support for estate workers demanding a wage increase from Rs. 1,350 to Rs. 1,750, and said estate communities that voted for the Government are awaiting solutions to housing, wages and livelihoods. Appropriation Bill 2025: Committee Stage - Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure (Heads 135, 293, 337) Read →
- 14 March 2025 The Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna - Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure JJB AI summary Minister Samantha Viddyarathna outlined the scale of the plantation sector and said the Ministry’s Rs. 17,888 million allocation, including Rs. 12,038 million in capital expenditure, would support reforms in coconut, tea and rubber. He said the coconut sector faces an acute shortage due to past planning and governance failures, cited alleged misuse of plantation assets, and announced a 10-year coconut plan, a national plantation policy and a coconut master plan to be submitted to Cabinet. He set production and export targets for coconut, including raising output to 4,200 million nuts and exports to USD 1.5 billion by 2030, supported by replanting, seedlings, subsidized fertilizer, pest-control grants, irrigation and development of the Northern Coconut Triangle. On tea, he said Sri Lanka had lost international standing and that the Government would focus on smallholders, fertilizer support, quality improvement and policy changes to reverse the decline. Appropriation Bill 2025: Committee Stage - Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure (Heads 135, 293, 337) Read →
- 14 March 2025 The Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka SJB AI summary Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka moved the traditional token cut to the Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure’s expenditure and outlined the historical and economic importance of tea, coconut, rubber, cinnamon and kitul. He said the plantation sector faces labour shortages, weak coordination among institutions, climate impacts, rising input costs and international competition, with particular concerns over declining tea replanting, factory closures, coconut price increases, rubber crop difficulties and low returns in cinnamon and kitul. He called for better coordination among plantation bodies, fertilizer and pest-control support, and practical short- and long-term measures to protect growers, workers, consumers and export earnings. Appropriation Bill 2025: Committee Stage - Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure (Heads 135, 293, 337) Read →
- 14 March 2025 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Ravi Karunanayake urged that the measure be implemented decisively to avoid problems similar to those experienced at the NCMC. He emphasized the need for bold execution rather than hesitation. Oral Questions and Answers Read →
- 14 March 2025 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Ravi Karunanayake questioned the limited admission of A/L-qualified students to state universities, noting that only about 42,000 enter despite 173,000 qualifying and substantial public expenditure on the university system. He asked the Prime Minister why the Government could not further strengthen higher education options, including private university access and interest-free loan schemes, citing past policy efforts and the large private and overseas education spending by families. Oral Questions and Answers Read →
- 14 March 2025 Hon. Kumara Jayakody JJB AI summary Hon. Kumara Jayakody stated that there is a modest staffing shortfall, mainly in higher technical positions such as engineers, while some lower-grade divisions have excess staff. He said the Government is implementing the post-2016 Cabinet decision to discontinue manpower recruitment and therefore does not need external recruitment for lower grades. Applications are currently being called through the relevant website to fill higher-level technical vacancies. Oral Questions and Answers Read →
- 14 March 2025 Hon. Kumara Jayakody JJB AI summary Hon. Kumara Jayakody stated that the Government’s commitment was to achieve and sustainably maintain an approximately 30 per cent reduction in electricity tariffs over three years, rather than respond to short-term quarterly fluctuations. He explained that daily fuel price changes have limited impact because fossil fuel use in generation has declined and coal is procured through annual fixed-price tenders, with logistical constraints limiting midstream adjustments. He reaffirmed the goal of implementing tariff reductions for the benefit of the economy and the public. Oral Questions and Answers Read →
- 14 March 2025 Hon. Nalin Bandara Jayamaha SJB AI summary Hon. Nalin Bandara Jayamaha asked whether the Government would fulfil the President’s election pledge to reduce electricity bills by one-third at the next tariff revision. He cited recent declines in Brent crude and coal prices and urged the Government, in coordination with the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka, to align the revision with that promised reduction. Oral Questions and Answers Read →
- 14 March 2025 Hon. Kumara Jayakody - Minister of Energy JJB AI summary Hon. Kumara Jayakody stated that Cabinet decisions in 2023 and 2024 set electricity tariff revisions first at six-monthly and then three-monthly intervals, with the latest revision taking effect on 18 January 2025. He said the CEB will submit the next quarterly tariff proposal to the PUCSL under the approved methodology after assessing the full billing impact, which is expected to be clear by mid-April. He explained that revenue adequacy will be evaluated using factors including fuel prices, hydrology, plant dispatch, interest rates, macroeconomic conditions, demand, allowed revenue, and government policy guidelines. Oral Questions and Answers Read →
- 14 March 2025 Hon. Ajith P. Perera SJB AI summary Hon. Ajith P. Perera requested that a relevant letter cited by the Minister be placed in the Library. He argued for transparent, competitive tenders for renewable energy projects, particularly wind and solar opportunities in Mannar and the Northern seas, noting that competition could secure lower prices while maintaining good relations with India. He questioned why the Government was not swiftly calling fresh tenders and tenders for remaining tracts through simple and transparent procurement processes. Oral Questions and Answers Read →
- 14 March 2025 Hon. Kumara Jayakody JJB AI summary Hon. Kumara Jayakody clarified that the project had not been cancelled, but that Cabinet had revoked the previous decision of 28 August 2023 to sign the agreement and was reviewing the matter. He said the Adani Group had informed the BOI of an intention to withdraw, though no final position had been received, and offered to table the local company’s letter if the issue was formally raised. He stated that the previous Government had treated the project as a G2G arrangement, while the current Cabinet was seeking to regularize the process. Oral Questions and Answers Read →
- 14 March 2025 Hon. Ajith P. Perera SJB AI summary Hon. Ajith P. Perera questioned the Government’s characterization of the Adani energy project as a government-to-government agreement, arguing that India and Adani should not be treated as the same entity under the Electricity Act. He referred to election pledges to cancel the agreement and claimed that competitive bidding could have secured a lower electricity price than the reported USD cents 8.26 per unit. He also asked the Minister to disclose the contents of Adani’s written notification regarding its reported withdrawal from the project, citing its national importance. Oral Questions and Answers Read →